Homo Neanderthalensis skull of "Tesšik-Tas"š

It is the juvenile, approximately 70,000-year-old skull of a Neanderthal. It was discovered by Alexei Okladnikow on 04.07.1938 in a cave at Tesšik-Tasš south of Samarkand in the Gissar Mountains in Uzbekistan.

This find represents the eastern boundary of the known distribution area of the Neanderthals. The skull had to be reconstructed from about 150 pieces. The boy died at the age of about 9 years, but he was as far developed as he had already developed the typical features of the Neanderthals. His brain had a volume of 1500 cubic centimeters and was - compaired to modern man - very big for his age.

The boy had been buried in a shallow grave. Around the skull six pairs of capricorn horns have neen placed in the soil. Because of this fact the skull of  TeÅ¡ik-TaÅ¡ is often cited as an example for the burial rituals of Neanderthals.

This original-cast is handcoloured and made of Epoxi. The colours might be a little differend than shown on the pictures. Because of the handcraft every cast is unique.